Charles g



(No Model.)

0. G. 86 L. TIEFEL.

EXTENSION LADDER.

No. 431,014. 7 Patented June24, 1890.

UNITED STATES CHARLES G. TIEFEL AND LEONARD TIEFEL, OF ROCHESTER, NEWVYORK PATENT OFFIc ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO EDGAR H. WVARREN, OE SAMEPLACE.

EXTENSION-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,014, dated June 24,1890. Application filed March 1, 1890- Serial N 0. 342,183. (No model.)

provements in Extension-Ladders; and we do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawin s,

forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon.

Our present invention relates to that class of telescoping ladderscapable of extension; and it consists in certain constructions andcombinations of parts whereby the operator is enabled to manipulate theladder as de sired from the ground and with the rope used for raising orextending it.

The invention further consists in certain novelties of construction andcombinations of parts whereby the construction of the ladder ismaterially cheapened and simplified, all as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of thisspecification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladder constructedin accordance with our invention; Fig. 2, a similar view extended; Fig.3, a longitudinal section of a portion of the ladder, showing theoperation of the parts; Fig. 4, a View of a modified form of fasteningdevice.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote similarparts.

The lower half or part- A of the ladder is provided with the side piecesA, connected by the rungs a at the front and at suitable intervals atthe back by cross-pieces b, and between the sides is arranged the upperor extensible portion B of theladder, guided and held in the presentinstance between the rungs and connecting-pieces 5, though it might beheld and guided by suitable angle irons or straps arranged on the upperend of the lower ladder and the lower end of the upper ladder, as isusual in devices of this description.

Arranged near the upper end of the lower ladder A, and preferably on thefront of one of the side pieces, is a pulley C, over which means ofwhich the upper section can be controlled.

The preferred form of device for sustaining the ladderB when extended isshown in thefirst three figures of the drawings, and consists of a ahook D, preferably made double and formed from a single rod or bar bentto form. two hooks or supporting portions D D, connected by a cross-bard. The said hook is preferably pivoted to the side pieces A by means ofstaples or similar connecting devices 6, which embrace the substantiallystraight portions (1. The hook portions D D are turned slightly upward,and when in normal position project through the ladder and in positionto engage with any of the rungs of ladder B, being so positionedrelatively to one of the rungs a and the connecting-pieces b on the rearside that it will rest upon it and be firmly supported thereby,preferably causing the latter to support part of the weight of ladder B.One of the sides of the hook D is provided with an arm E, having anaperture or eye F therein, projecting, preferably, though notnecessarily, on the side of the pivotal point on which the hooks D arelocated. The hoisting-rope H passes through this eye, and thereby servesas a means for manipulating the hook from the ground.

In use the operator, when he desires to extend the ladder, simply pullson the rope H, raising the ladder B, the rungs on the latter engagingthe hook and throwing it forward as they pass, when it will drop untilthe desired height is reached, when it will drop in place, and, engagingthe back piece 5, will securelymaintain the ladderin place. \Vhen it isdesired to lower section B, the operator draws on the rope, taking theweight on it, and then pulls his end forward or in a direction todisengage the hooks, as in Fig. 3, and allows the rope to pass throughhis hands gradually. By thus controlling the supporting-hooks by thehoisting-rope the operator can readily steady the section A with onehand and manipulate the upper section with the other.

To prevent the hook from getting out of position accidentally, we preferto pass the rope H between the connecting portion d and the rung a,though this is not essential, as the hook is under the control of theoperator by the-means described. l*Iowever,in the modification shown inFig. 4, where the engaging portion of the hook is above the pivotalpoint, this is a desirable feature, as in this construction the hookmight fall backward when the ladder is turned down.

' It is not essential that the arm E of the hook be arranged on the sameside of the pivotal point of the latteras the engaging portion, as ifplaced on the opposite side it would only necessitate a movement of therope H in the opposite direction to cause the detachment of the hook.

By locating the pulley C on the face of the side piece A5 and employingthe double hook described the device shown can be readily constructedfrom ladders already on the market, without essential modification.Further, the double-hook arrangement is cheap, and being arranged onopposite sides of the front is not in the way of the person ascendingthe ladder.

It wi1l be understood that, instead of makin g the outside sectionthelower or stationary one, by a simple modification this could bereversed and the outer section raised and lowered.

These ladders can be made very cheaply, and have been found in practiceto answer the purpose admirably.

WVe claim as our invention- 1. The combination, with the lowerladdersection, the upper section sliding thereon, and a rope connectedto the ladder for raising and lowering it, of a hook or catch forsustaining the movable section controlled by the rope and adapted to beengaged and disengaged by the lateral movements of the latter,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the lower ladderseetion, the upper sectionsliding thereon, and a rope connected to the latter for raising it, of ahook or catch for sustaining the upper section, having an eye thereonthrough which the rope passes loosely, whereby the catch can becontrolled by the lateral manipulation of the rope, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with the lower laddersection, the upper sectionsliding thereon, and

a rope connected to the latter for raising it, of the double hook orcatch forsustaining the upper section, pivoted at the sides of the lowersection, and having the arm with which the rope co-operates, whereby theupper section may be raised and the catch controlled, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination,with the lower laddersection having the rungs and thesupportingpieces at the back and the upper ladder-section slidingbetween them, of the hook or catch for engaging the rungs of the uppersection, adapted to project across and engage both the rung andsupporting-piece on the lower section, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the lower laddersection, the upperladder-section sliding thereon, and the rope connected to the latter forraising it, of the double sustaining-hook hav ing the connecting-bar,between which latter and the rungs of the ladder the rope passes,

-thereby preventing the displacement of the as described.

CHAS. G. TIEFEL. LEONARD TIEFEL.

hook, substantially -Witnesses:

FRED F. CHURCH,- EDGAR H. WARREN.

